Princess Launches Largest Ever Caribbean Fleet!

Hi Everyone,

I received this information from Princess and thought it would be of
interest. If you have missed any of my news' postings, they are
available on my web site.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com


Princess Launches Largest Ever Caribbean Fleet in 2006-07
Eight Vessels to Ply Caribbean Waters; Line Introduces New Homeport of
New Orleans

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (July 11, 2005) - Eight Princess ships will be
sailing through the sunny Caribbean during the 2006-07 season, giving
passengers more choice than ever with a selection of 11 itineraries
including Southern Caribbean cruises aboard the new Crown Princess and
an inaugural season of sailings from the new homeport of New Orleans.

The cruises will range from seven to 14 days, aboard some of the
youngest and most amenity-filled ships in the region. Crown Princes,
which will sail on her first full program of Southern Caribbean
cruises from San Juan, and Golden Princess, which will inaugurate
Princess' first sailings from a new homeport in New Orleans, will be
joined by Caribbean Princess in the Eastern Caribbean, Star Princess
in the Western Caribbean and Grand Princess sailing the Western
Caribbean from Galveston. Sun Princess and Sea Princess will offer
longer voyages sailing the length and breadth of the Eastern and
Southern Caribbean, with Sun Princess offering 10-day cruises and Sea
Princess returning for a second season of 14-day journeys. And Coral
Princess will join the Caribbean fleet for a special holiday sailing
in the Eastern Caribbean.

"This deployment represents our largest Caribbean fleet to date," said
Jan Swartz, senior vice president of customer service and sales for
Princess. "With four different homeports, three choices in cruise
length, and a plethora of itineraries that cover the region, we offer
Caribbean cruising options to fit just about any preference. Plus, we
offer the newest seven-day fleet in the industry (at just under four
years old on average) with innovative ships built specifically for
Caribbean cruising and loaded with our trademark balconies - the
perfect way to enjoy the islands."

Princess' 2006-07 Caribbean season features:

Crown Princess - The newest addition to the Caribbean fleet, Crown
Princess will be based in San Juan for alternating Saturday departures
on seven-day cruises to the Southern Caribbean. The ship offers 13
sailings on a Classic Southern Caribbean itinerary featuring calls at
Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Maarten and St. Thomas. The Southern
Caribbean Explorer route meanwhile includes 13 departures with visits
to St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Grenada, Bonaire and Aruba. In addition,
following her previously announced summer season in "The Big Apple,"
Crown Princess will start her fall run with an eight-day repositioning
cruise from New York to San Juan on October 27, 2006 including stops
at St. Thomas, Antigua, Dominica and St. Kitts. The ship's Caribbean
season runs through April 28, 2007.

Caribbean Princess - The ship offers her third season sailing
Princess' Classic Eastern Caribbean itinerary roundtrip from Ft.
Lauderdale. The vessel shifts to Sunday departures for 27 sailings of
an itinerary that travels to St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Princess
Cays. Sailings run between October 29, 2006 and April 29, 2007.
Caribbean Princess will also offer a complete summer season in 2006
with alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises. The May 6 to
October 21, 2006 season features both 12 Eastern Caribbean sailings
and 13 Western Caribbean sailings to Princess Cays, Ocho Rios (or
Montego Bay), Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

Golden Princess - A new homeport for Princess, New Orleans, will be
the base for Golden Princess' Western Caribbean itinerary. The ship
will offer three sailings on an itinerary that travels to Montego Bay,
Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Golden Princess sails on December 16, 23 and
30, 2006.

Grand Princess - Grand Princess returns to her Galveston homeport to
sail on a series of seven-day Western Caribbean cruises. The
2,600-passenger vessel departs on Saturdays on a new itinerary that
calls in Costa Maya, Roatan (Honduras), Belize and Cozumel. The ship
offers 24 sailings on this itinerary between November 18, 2006 and
April 28, 2007.

Star Princess - Star Princess will again offer a series of seven-day
Western Caribbean itineraries, departing from Ft. Lauderdale on
Saturdays. The ship will offer 25 sailings between November 11, 2006
and April 28, 2007, featuring calls at Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman,
Cozumel and Princess Cays.

Sun Princess - Sun Princess will offer alternating 10-day sailings
roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale - one to the Southern Caribbean and the
other to the Eastern Caribbean. The Southern Caribbean Medley
itinerary is offered on 10 sailings and includes calls at Curaçao,
Isla Margarita, Barbados, Dominica, St. Thomas and Princess Cays. The
Eastern Caribbean Voyager itinerary is featured on nine sailings and
offers calls at Antigua, St. Lucia, Grenada, Martinique, St. Thomas
and Princess Cays. Sun Princess' Caribbean season runs between October
11, 2006 and April 9, 2007.

Sea Princess - Sea Princess again offers an intriguing a series of
14-day Caribbean adventures, featuring two alternating itineraries
sailing roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale. The ship will offer six
sailings on the Grand Caribbean Adventurer with calls at Princess
Cays, Tortola, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Barbados, St.
Vincent, Trinidad, Bonaire and Aruba. Six sailings of the Grand
Caribbean Islander itinerary feature calls at Princess Cays, Tortola,
Antigua, Dominica, Martinique, Barbados, Grenada, Isla Margarita,
Curaçao and Montego Bay. Sea Princess sails between November 11, 2006
and April 14, 2007.

Coral Princess - Coral Princess will join the Caribbean fleet for a
special holiday Eastern Caribbean sailing on December 22, 2006. This
seven-day escape features visits to St. Thomas, St. Maarten and
Princess' own Princess Keys.

Regardless of which itinerary passengers choose, they will enjoy some
of the most amenity-filled vessels in the Princess fleet, with such
distinctive features as the line's signature Personal Choice Dining,
Lotus Spa, extensive children and teen centers, wedding chapels,
internet centers, and an extensive array of entertainment options and
venues, all in an intimately designed, personalized environment. Crown
Princess and her sister ship, Caribbean Princess, both sailing
year-round in the Caribbean, sport such features as a poolside "Movies
Under the Star" movie screen, a Caribbean-themed alternative
restaurant, and nearly 900 cabins with balconies -- more than on any
other cruise ships sailing year-round in the Caribbean.

Early booking fares for Caribbean cruises begin at $599 per person,
based on double occupancy, for a 7-day sailing. Ten-day sailings begin
at $899 and 14 day sailings are priced from $1,349.

Additional information is available through a professional travel
agent.

--
"Ray Goldenberg" wrote in message
...
Hi Everyone,

I received this information from Princess and thought it would be of
interest. If you have missed any of my news' postings, they are
available on my web site.


Princess Launches Largest Ever Caribbean Fleet in 2006-07
Eight Vessels to Ply Caribbean Waters; Line Introduces New Homeport of
New Orleans

Rest of info snipped.

If I read this correctly, Princess is not doing the Southern Caribbean 7 day
through the summer months. If this is the case, I have to say that I find it
rather strange, as any time we have done a SC ( 3 times ) the ships have
sailed at full capacity. It seems to be a very popular cruise for families.
What are others thoughts on this?

Paul

Paul Hoffman
McMaster University Biology Dept.
Hamilton ON 905 525 9140 ext 24241 fax 905 522 6066
"The only thing more expensive than hiring a
professional, is hiring an amateur." Red Adair

On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 16:56:39 -0400, "Paul Hoffman"
wrote:

Princess is not doing the Southern Caribbean 7 day
through the summer months. If this is the case, I have to say that I find it
rather strange, as any time we have done a SC ( 3 times ) the ships have
sailed at full capacity.

Hi Paul,

Princess is not doing summer Southern Caribbean this summer either.
They get much higher per diems in Alaska and Europe than the
Caribbean. This is why they only have one ship in the Caribbean in
the summer. You will notice the other premium cruise lines and none
of the luxury lines do the Caribbean in the summer. Same reason.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com

Thanks Ray, although RCI does and Princess is no better than them in my
opinion. Carnival also does and as far as I am concerned our Destiny cruise
in May was far and away better than the Golden Princess in Aug of last year.
Just my thoughts anyway.

Paul
--
Paul Hoffman
McMaster University Biology Dept.
Hamilton ON 905 525 9140 ext 24241 fax 905 522 6066
"The only thing more expensive than hiring a
professional, is hiring an amateur." Red Adair
"Ray Goldenberg" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 16:56:39 -0400, "Paul Hoffman"
wrote:

Princess is not doing the Southern Caribbean 7 day
through the summer months. If this is the case, I have to say that I find
it
rather strange, as any time we have done a SC ( 3 times ) the ships have
sailed at full capacity.

Hi Paul,

Princess is not doing summer Southern Caribbean this summer either.
They get much higher per diems in Alaska and Europe than the
Caribbean. This is why they only have one ship in the Caribbean in
the summer. You will notice the other premium cruise lines and none
of the luxury lines do the Caribbean in the summer. Same reason.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com

Ray,

According to my count, when Golden arrives in the Big Easy (Nawlins) in
Dec., 2006, there will be four cruise lines and 5 ships operating out
of New Orleans at least part of the year: Carnival Conquest and
Sensation, NCL Sun, RCI Grandeur, and Golden Princess. Skipping the
riverboat companies, do you know of any other cruise lines or ships
planning to operate out of New Orleans. Also, the Carnival Holiday
sails out of Mobile. Are any of the other cruise lines considering
placing a ship in Mobile? How about Biloxi/Gulfport?

John